WOLF PACK WEEKLY: March 2 – 8, 2009

The Wolf Pack (33-23-2-3, 71 pts.) passed the three-quarter pole of their season with three wins last week, running their season-high winning streak to six straight games.  On Wednesday night at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Pack defeated the Penguins 5-1, despite being outshot by a margin of 40-25.  Friday night at home against Manchester, the Wolf Pack pulled out a 2-1 shootout victory, their first trip to a shootout in 33 games.  After that, Saturday’s visit to Portland produced another shootout victory, 4-3, in a game that the Wolf Pack trailed 3-0 going into the third period.  Goaltender Matt Zaba had another huge week, stopping nine out of 10 total attempts in his first two career AHL shootouts, and allowing a total of only five goals on 101 shots in regulation and overtime.

This week:

It’s a four-games-in-five-days week for the Wolf Pack this week, starting at home against Worcester Wednesday night.  Faceoff is 7:00 at the XL Center.  Friday night the Pack hit the road to battle Manchester (7:30), and then move on to Springfield Saturday (7:00) and Bridgeport Sunday (4:00).

Wednesday, March 4^th vs. Worcester at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· The Wolf Pack and the divisional-rival Sharks have not seen each other since December 14^th, when the Pack scored a 2-1 win in Worcester.  The Wolf Pack have won the last two games in the season series, to run their record against the Sharks to 2-2-0-1.

· Worcester is 2-1-1-0 in its last four games, to raise its season record to 30-26-1-2 for 63 points.  That puts the Sharks in sixth place in the Atlantic, one point out of a playoff spot and eight points behind the Wolf Pack.

· Sharks captain Ryan Vesce ranks fourth in the AHL in assists (41) and is tied for seventh in the league in points (61).

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Friday, March 6^th at Manchester (Verizon Wireless Arena), 7:30 p.m.

· This is the third meeting with the Monarchs in a span of six games on the Wolf Pack’s schedule.  The Pack have won five of the six games on the year between the two teams and are 2-0-0-0 on the year in Manchester.

· The Monarchs are 4-1-0-1 in their last six games, with the only non-wins in that span coming against the Wolf Pack.  An 8-2-0-1 run has improved Manchester’s record to 29-26-0-6 for 64 points and lifted them into a tie with Lowell for the Atlantic Division’s last playoff spot.

· Goaltender Dan Taylor is 7-2-1 in 10 appearances since joining the Monarchs from Reading of the ECHL, with a 2.29 goals-against average and a 92.1% save percentage.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Saturday, March 7^th at Springfield (MassMutual Center), 7:00 p.m.

· The Falcons are 3-7-1-1 in 12 games since the parent Edmonton Oilers replaced Springfield head coach Jeff Truitt with Rob Daum February 10^th.  Overall the Falcons are 19-34-7-2 for 47 points and in last place in the Atlantic.

· The Wolf Pack are 5-1-0-1 vs. Springfield this season and have gone 5-0-0-1 in the last six meetings since a 4-3 loss in Hartford on opening night October 11^th.  This is the Pack’s fourth of five visits on the year to Springfield.

· Forward Charles Linglet has 2-5-7 in seven games since being loaned to the Falcons by the St. Louis Blues February 18^th.

· Radio – this game can be heard live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.  Bob Crawford and WTIC NewsTalk 1080’s Scott Gray will have the call.    The action will also be carried live in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Sunday, March 8^th at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 4:00 p.m.

· This is the second-to-last game of this year’s GEICO Connecticut Cup series between the Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers, and the Pack’s last visit of the season to Bridgeport.  The Wolf Pack are 4-4-0-0 in the season series thus far, and 1-3-0-0 in Bridgeport.

· The Sound Tigers have at least a standings point in 11 straight games (8-0-0-3), allowing them to climb to an even 80 points (36-17-3-5).  That puts them second in the East Division, four points behind Hershey.

· Bridgeport goaltender Nathan Lawson, who shut the Wolf Pack out in the last clash between the two teams, a 1-0 Sound Tiger win February 18^th in Hartford, leads the league in save percentage (93.8) and sports the AHL’s second-best GAA (1.81).

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Recent Transactions:

Maxime Daigneault – recalled by the Wolf Pack from loan to Charlotte (ECHL) February 25^th and returned February 26^th.

Pack Tracks:

Now through March 18^th, the Wolf Pack is offering 20% off the special Wolf Pack “Luck of the Irish” cap.  Purchase yours on-line at www.store.hartfordwolfpack.com, or at the Wolf Pack’s special St. Patrick’s game on Saturday, March 14^th.  It’s a navy and green, garment-washed, fitted cap, with a Wolf Pack logo on the front and a shamrock on the back.

Adult tickets for Wolf Pack home games can be purchased for as low as $10 each for the rest of the regular season, sponsored by Click It or Ticket.  Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the XL Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations including Macy's at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000, and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.  Season tickets, six-game packages, coupon books and group tickets are also available.  Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.

The Wolf Pack has a new broadcast partnership this season with WTIC NewsTalk 1080 and WTIC-FM.  All of the Wolf Pack’s regular-season and playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com . Select games will be carried live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.  And, as part of the partnership, all Wolf Pack full season ticket accounts will receive a free HD car radio, with installation from JoDi’s Sound Center, courtesy of the two stations and the Wolf Pack.  To purchase your season seats, contact the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.

TRACK THE PACK AT WWW.HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM